Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bali (Fides Service) - About 30 bishops and 40 priests and lay persons, Delegates of Bishops Commissions for social communications and Commissions for inter-religious dialogue from all over Asia, are meeting in Bali, Indonesia for a Seminar promoted by the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) to discuss the relationship between communication and dialogue, in particular in inter-religious dialogue.
Archbishop Malcolm Ranjit, papal nuncio in Indonesia delivered a message of encouragement sent by Pope John Paul II in which the Holy Father urged the participants to “intensify their efforts in the challenge of inter-religious dialogue” and to “spread the light of the Gospel in a spirit of harmony”, in the multi cultural context of Asia.
In his address Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, President of the pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue who travelled from Rome to attend the seminar, underlined that dialogue is a constructive attitude of communication towards others.
Bishop Thomas Dabri of Vasai, India, one of the delegates, told Fides: “In countries with a multi-religious society like India one cannot practice one’s religion without taking other religions into consideration. We must all be in contact in our shared search for the transcendent. It would be a good thing for people of different religions to take part in the respect religious festivals and for all believers to organise joint programmes to promote development among the poor”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/11/2004 Lines: 25 Words: 254)
